now disappeared in most of the UK, due to the decline of traditional manufacturing industries and schools objecting to the holidays at crucial exam times. It was common for local authorities to allocate a one-week school holiday to coincide with Wakes Week in lieu of holiday time elsewhere in the year, but schools began to discontinue the Wakes Week holiday after the introduction of the National Curriculum and the standardisation of school holidays across England. Councils no longer have a statutory power to set dates for public holidays following the introduction of the Employment Act 1989 and the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994. See also Whit Friday References Notes Bibliography External links Public holidays in the United Kingdom English culture Industrial Revolution in Scotland September observances Holidays and observances by scheduling (nth weekday of the month)